We found that lotions containing both concentrations of catnip essential oil were highly effective at preventing mosquito landing, with 6% catnip oil performing as well as 15% DEET.

The trial compared the catnip lotion against 15% DEET, so it’s unknown how it compares against stronger formulas. However this is quite promising and I hope further studies are conducted globally! Catnip, as a member of the mint family, is quite a fast-growing, hardy plant, and could easily replace DEET for both home and commercial products if it continues to prove effective.

Repels mosquitos. Pumas, panthers, leopards, etc…not so much.

Funny enough, that’s a leading theory of why attraction to and the desire to roll around in catnip by felines was selected for.